Interview with Juliana Haygert

Today, we are happy to have an interview with Juliana Haygert, author of The Everlast Trilogy.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting--but equally gratifying--life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Welcome to We Do Write, Juliana. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi there. First, thank you for having me! I’m a writer, author, wife, mom, friend, crazy lady, former ballerina, avid reader.

How long have you been writing? 

Since I was 13yo, but it was just a hobby. It wasn’t until 2009 that I started thinking about the possibility of publishing.

Tell us about SOUL OATH. What’s the story about?

Soul Oath is the sequel of Destiny Gift. It follows the story of Nadine, Victor, Micah, and Ceris, and
some other characters … and I can’t say much more without revealing big things from the end of Destiny Gift ;)

Ahh .... Okay. With that in mind, here's a little blurb of DESTINY GIFT.

Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.

A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into

Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.

To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

Great premise. I love the idea of New York City cast in total darkness. How did the idea of the story come to you?

My husband. No, seriously, we were talking books and ideas, and he always said I had to write one about gods and mythology, because he loves this kind of stuff. So, he asked, what if you wrote about immortals gods, and then, one of them dies – for real. They thought they were immortal, but they aren’t! And, from that, the rest came to me pretty easily.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I used to have critique partners – I think I still do lol – but everyone’s schedule is so crazy lately. Now, I do a few rounds of critique with my editor. Self edit? Only one round before sending it to my editor the first time and even then I know she’ll find lots of things to work on lol

Oh, I know. Believe me, I know. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A mix of both, though I’m trying to become more of a plotter. Soul Oath had a loose outline and it worked. I guess that when writing series, it’s easier to go with an outline.

Yes, but pantsing is such a hard habit to break. What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Editing … I love writing. I could live on it. But editing kicks my butt.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Music. Something to drink (depending on the hour of the day, it can be water, coffee, coke, or wine =P). And for the past couple of weeks, a scented candle …

What are you reading right now?

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Probably, by the time you post this interview, I’ll have read another 4 or 5 books ;)

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I want so many superpowers … can I be like Korra and control five elements?

Sure! Why not? What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Hm, bah, tough one. I have a terrible memory for this kind of thing. Seriously, can’t think of a thing.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: soul, swear, and penguin.

The penguin swore to give his soul to the moon! 

Not sure if I could change the tense on the verb, but there you have it. The best I could come up with in 2 seconds lol

That's perfect! Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... reading or dancing. Or cooking. Or playing with my kid lol

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

My family, my friends, my writer friends, the gang from NA Alley and the #row80 sprint. My editor for sure. My cover designer too!

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads

Thanks for having me! :)

It was our pleasure. Thanks for joining us.

Cover Reveal: Gabriel Stone and the Wrath of the Solarians

Welcome to the cover reveal for

Gabriel Stone and the Wrath of the Solarians (Gabriel Stone #2)
by Shannon Duffy

presented by Month9Books!

Trying to re-unite Tahlita, the telekinetic Valtan girl with her prickly father Dane?
Not so easy.
Getting them to make up and go home to Valta—you know, so that just humans are living in Gabriel Stone’s small hometown of Willow Creek?
Epic uphill battle.
But when Prince Oliver shows up asking for help and drops the info bomb about the empress and princess being kidnapped by other-planetary creeps called Solarians, Gabe’s life turns into a nightmare full of suck.
Even with cool new powers, two best friends, awesome flying tigers, and a talking tracker monkey, Gabriel couldn’t have been prepared for the chaos slamming down on Valta. Let alone the dangerous quest to save his Valtan friends.
Oh, and Gabriel doesn’t do wells. So that witch trapped at the bottom of one who needs rescuing—the one who’s supposedly the key to saving so many others? Yeah, it’s not looking good for her either…

Gabriel Stone and the Wrath of the Solarians (Gabriel Stone #2)
by Shannon Duffy
Publication Date: March 25, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books

I grew up on the east coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and now live in Ontario. I'm the mom of one awesome boy named Gabe. I love writing, reading, working out, shopping and traveling. My guilty pleasure is reality TV. Love it. =)

My YA Paranormal Romance, SPECTRAL, and the first in my MG Fantasy series, GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA are both out now. The Gabriel Stone sequel, GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIANS releases March/14.I also have a new YA Cyberpunk series coming out. The first novel in that series is titled, AWAKENING and releases Jan/15.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Interview with Michelle Reed @chapterxchapter @Michelle_E_Reed @Month9Books

Today we join the LIFE AD tour by indulging in an interview with fabulous author Michelle Reed. Let's get to know more about her and her book.

Welcome to We Do Write, Michelle. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thanks so much for hosting me on the Life, A.D. blog tour!

I am a young adult author and a mom, and live in Wisconsin with my husband, son, and our yellow lab. My boys are my heart, and we spend a lot of time together. When I’m not writing, I’m either hanging out with my family, reading, or catching some quality couch potato time with my husband.

How long have you been writing?

I took up writing in my 30s when I penned a few underwhelming screenplays. I still have those three scripts in a box under my bed, but it has been years since I’ve looked at them. I found that the format wasn’t something I was particularly suited for, and I gave up writing for a while, After my son was born in 2008, I really felt the itch to write again, and it was then that I began to write (in fits and starts) my first novel, Life, A.D.

Tell us about LIFE AD. What’s the story about?

Life, A.D. is the story of seventeen-year-old Dez Donnelly, who dies in a car crash in the early spring before high school graduation. Her unprepared soul is transported to Atman Station, the crossroads of the afterlife. She discovers that she’s stuck in a limbo state of existence, where she’ll stay until she learns to let go of the life she no longer has, and accept her death. Dez is thrown into a harsh new existence of strict rules, relentless staff, and a group of fellow teens thrown together by fate. Atman City is a beautiful, strictly forbidden temptation lying just outside the confines of the station complex, where adventure and danger await.

Sounds great. How did the idea of the story come to you?

In 2006 I was on a flight to Los Angeles to a writer’s conference, and I was listening to m iPod. It was a perfect moment of being in the right headspace when a song I’d heard a hundred times before triggered something in me. By the time the flight landed, I had a vision of the station in my mind. The coolest thing about it is, a friend of mine had the winning bid on a charity auction and got to go hiking with the band before a show this past summer, and she was able to pass along the story of how they inspired me!

Wow, that's so cool! Tell us, do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I have a couple of beta readers whose feedback I trust, and they play very different, but equally important roles in my editing process. One comes at my stories from the perspective of a fellow writer, and the other reads purely as a reader. I’m so fortunate to have people I feel comfortable sharing my drafts with, even in the ugly, early stages of just-finished first drafts.

I do self-edit as well. I know it’s about the worst way to write, but I tend to go over and over something until I get it to a point where I’m happy with it before I can move on in the story. Sometimes I’ll spend days on a handful of pages, just trying to get it right.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

100% pantser. I wish I had the discipline and ability to plot, but I just follow my characters around wondering what they’ll do next. I always have a vague idea of how I want things to end, but how I’m going to get there tends to be a mystery. In Life, A.D., for example, I knew when I started how the final scene would go, but beyond that, it was pantser all the way. It sounds crazy, but I tend to have arguments with my protagonist in my head. “Why won’t you tell me what’s going on? I can’t tell your story if you don’t let me,” tends to be a common inner-dialogue. I sit back and watch it all unfold, and write down what I see.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Putting aside my feelings and following the story where it goes, even where it goes somewhere dark and painful. My editor gave me a fantastic piece of advice and told me to “put on my mean hat.” While I did eventually embrace the concept, it’s always been a challenge. Making my characters struggle and hurt will always be difficult for me, no matter how comfortable I get wearing my hat.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

I write on a laptop, but I ALWAYS keep close at hand a notebook and far more pens than one person could ever need. I’m constantly jotting down notes as I write: points and potential inconsistencies to review, ideas for subsequent books, etc. When I was writing Life, A.D. I was forever sketching floor plans and city layouts, despite my utter lack of drawing ability.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I’d love to have Superman’s speed.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Oh, man, the things I was looking up when writing my short story for Month9Books charity anthology Very Superstitious…I’m surprised the FBI didn’t come knocking on my door. I suppose one of the weirdest things I googled was when I was looking for very specific details of the physical effects of cobra venom.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: life, fractured, and zebra.

No zebras were harmed in the making of Life, A.D., but the fractured remains of a life left behind are a recurrent theme.

Do I get bonus points for using life twice?

Sure! ;) Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

Watching Top Gear with my son.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

One of the many things I’ve learned through this publishing process is just how many people it takes to make a book a reality. From the support of my husband and son to the encouragement of family and friends, the hard work and selfless dedication of my betas, and the entire publishing team, it really is a group effort. Life, A.D. doesn’t simply reflect my work. It is a collaborative effort of so many. Thank you John and Dominic for always believing in me. Thanks to my friends and my family for being so supportive, especially my mom. A big thanks goes out to Rioghnach and Crystal, my awesome beta readers. My editor Hallie was absolutely amazing, as is the entire staff at Month9Books. Thank you all.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | Indiebound
   

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Book Blast: Rook by Stella McDonald

Today we're taking part in the Rook Book Blast. Check out this thrilling tale, and be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!

Rook

Could you be the monster to save who you love?

Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.

Praise for Rook:

"This book also drew me in. I couldn't let go of what was happening and when life intervened and forced me to close my computer I kept looking for a few moments to sit down and read some more.” Brookeworm, a Blog 4 Stars

"Rook had me hooked from the first page. It all started so mysteriously that I just had to know what it was all about. “ Jannat Bhat, Obsessive Compulsive Reader 4 Stars

“Rook is an amazing story that had me at the edge of my seat.” Tee Loves Kyle Jacobson Blog, 5 Stars



Excerpt

Is that him? Is he back?

My legs jerked, kicking and twitching me around to face the sound. I managed to roll slightly, knocking against a soft, solid object at my feet. It grunted weakly, and immediately I recoiled as though I had been bitten. Squinting, I stared, willing my eyes to find light in the dark, but there was nothing.

The sound of the runner drew closer, as if they would trample me any moment. A dim, swaying light appeared through the trees, burning away the inky edges of the deep shadows. When light and sound were almost upon me, branches above me snapped, spraying me in a shower of dried pine needles and snow.

Tour Schedule

Author Stella MacDonald

Stella is a married graduate student with three boys. Utah is home right now, but the need to wander has extended beyond the fantasy world of writing and into real life. She's lived all around the US and even into the Middle East. The world is really a small place, only made bigger through imagination.







BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/30/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Book Blitz: If Only We by Jessica Sankiewicz @Jess_Sankiewicz

We're happy to be a part of the IF ONLY WE book blitz today. Check out this interesting novel by Jessica Sankiewicz, and be sure to read the excerpt and enter the Rafflecopter below!

If Only We

by Jessica
Sankiewicz

Release Date:
10/27/13

Summary from Goodreads:

They say all it takes is one wrong move and you lose the game. One false step and you’re trapped. One slip-up in your choice of words and you ruin a friendship forever. That is what they say. They
say I lost.

I do not believe them.

At the end of the summer after graduation, Adrienne wonders what happened to cause her life to be in ruins. She isn’t getting along with her mom, her stepsister isn’t talking to her, and, to top it off, the boy she’s been in love with doesn’t want anything to do with her. She believes the turning point was a choice she made at graduation. When she wakes up the next day, she has been transported back three months to that moment, the one where everything started to fall apart.

Adrienne realizes she has been given a second chance—and this time she doesn’t want to mess anything up. Reliving the entire summer, though, turns out to be a lot harder than she thought. As the same days and weeks go by, she starts to see how simple decisions can make a huge impact on the world around her.
Despite knowing some of what lies ahead, there are some things she didn’t anticipate. She thought she knew what mistake led her to where she ended up the first time. She was wrong.



And by the time summer is over, she discovers what was really at stake.

Available from:

  

About the Author

Jessica is the 28-year-old author of IF ONLY WE, a YA contemporary. You can often find her either reading or marathon watching TV on DVD, her favorites being Castle and Veronica Mars. She frequently mismatches her clothes and giggles uncontrollably. She knows almost every Billy Joel song by heart. She collects books and toys, and she has an intense love of cats and lemurs. Currently in the midst of her quarter-life-crisis, she is still takin' names and getting
very close to reaching an epiphany.

Author Links:

    

EXCERPT :

I never imagined a day when I wouldn’t want the sun to shine. One of the best things about summer is the sunshine; its warmth and the light it casts late into the evenings. It beats the chill and shorter days of the winter. Today is different. Today isn’t just another summer day.

Today I am heading to the cemetery.

I flip the dial on my car radio to find something to listen to on the way. I hate driving without something playing. Nothing comes on that is appropriate. No music sounds good right now, so I just turn it off. I wish something would feel good and distract me from the already awful day I’m having.

Since I got in late last night, I didn't speak to my mom until this morning. I should have just skipped breakfast and avoided the kitchen entirely.

When I sat down, she said, “Based on what Lyndsay has told me, River's Bend would be a great place to work.”

I tried to not openly flinch but it was impossible. Not only impossible to not do, but also impossible for my mom to not notice.

“What was that for? It's not my fault you missed out on that opportunity because you ran off to your father's.”

“I'll be going to school on Monday. I'm still going to be a nurse. You should be happy.”

“I am happy that you will be a nurse.”

I sighed. “Then why is it such a big deal that I didn't volunteer this summer? It's not like that one thing makes a difference in the long run.”

“It shows how dedicated you are in carrying out family tradition.”

Instead of rehashing the same conversations I had with her all summer, I stood up and left the house without another word.

I pull into the drive for the cemetery and park under the shade of a maple tree. I sit there with one hand on the wheel and the other on the key in the ignition. It’s time. Time to get out of the car.

It's time for me to face him.

GIVEAWAY:

One print copy of If Only We (INT)

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Excerpt: Counting Shadows by Olivia Rivers

Can you believe it's December already? I just got used to writing 2013, and in less than a month, I'll have to start all over with the new year. Not that I'm dreading 2014, because I'm not. Not at all.. But it still feels like this year has disappeared faster than chocolate in my house when I'm writing (which is pretty fast).

But who has time to complain about sneaky, disappearing things like 2013 and chocolate, when we have a book excerpt to read?  Olivia Rivers has stopped by to share a bit of her YA fantasy novel, COUNTING SHADOWS, with us.

Two hearts, one kiss…
…Nothing left.

Faye’s soul-mate is everything she should hate—an Angel, an outcast, an enemy. Ashe is just one more imperfection in her life that somehow makes everything… perfect.

Until he’s murdered.

With the only person she loves ripped away, Faye sets out to avenge Ashe’s death. The task seems impossible, until she finds Lor—an Angel who looks nearly identical to Ashe’s killer. Arrogant and hot-headed, Lor is everything Ashe wasn’t. But Lor is connected to her soul-mate’s past, and Faye needs him to find the killer—even if Lor is potentially deadly.

But when Faye discovers that Ashe’s past isn’t as black and white as she thought, she faces an impossible choice: Give up the hunt, and risk the lives of others. Or continue pursuing Ashe’s murderer, and forfeit the lives of everyone in her family—including herself.

GOODREADS    AMAZON

EXCERPT:

His black eyes settle on mine, the pain in them a silent accusation. Ashe knows he’s about to die. And he knows I’ve lied about his Fate.

I can’t feel guilt. I can’t feel anything. There’s only my ragged breaths and the tears pressing against my eyes. Ashe steps toward me, even though I’m in the opposite direction of the door. No, I silently beg him. Run. I don’t realize I’m shaking my head until he falters.

“Stop,” one of the guards hisses, even though he already has. “Don’t go near the Lady Faye.”

My heart pounds wildly. “Just count the beats when you get scared,” Ashe told me months ago, as he pressed his palm over my heart. “Remember that I’ll protect you until the day they stop. And don’t be scared anymore.”

I gasp in air. One, two, three, four…

He walks toward me, his face hard with determination.

Five, six, seven…

One of the guards shouts and stabs his spear forward. At Ashe. My Ashe.

My heart stops.

I scream at the guard, telling him to stop, to leave, to disappear and never show his face again. But my words are a jumbled mess, and it’s too late. The spear pierces Ashe’s right wing, drawing blood. Nausea fills me as the red blood mingles with his crimson feathers. I’ve always loved his wings. They mark him as an Angel, the one bit of perfection in my life.

Now those wings are ruined.

Ashe’s eyes never leave me, even as the guard tears his spear out of the wound. I swallow hard. I’ve never stared into his eyes for too long, knowing I’d probably lose myself in all the pain and loneliness in their depths. Now I never want to look away.

“Get moving,” the guard with the bloodied spear growls. He stabs at Ashe again, but Ashe grabs the shaft of the spear before it strikes him. He yanks the spear from the guard and snaps it in two. Ashe allows one of the halves to clatter to the stone floor, but keeps hold of the sharpened end. His gaze slowly sweeps over the four guards with weapons, a low growl rumbling in his throat.

“You can’t do this,” I say, finally finding my voice. “My father would never allow it.”

“Your father ordered this,” snaps the guard without a spear. He braces for an attack, as do the others.

Then their leader takes a step forward and pushes out a staying hand. “Wait.”

I recognize this leader as Jolik. He was my bodyguard for awhile before Ashe became my Guardian. I’m not sure how many bodyguards I went through—five, six?—but they never lasted long before I excused them.

Jolik nods to Ashe. “Let him say goodbye.”

The weaponless guard speaks up. “He could kill her.”

“He won’t,” Jolik says, shaking his head.

Ashe doesn’t wait for Jolik to change his mind. He drops the broken spear and rushes to me. Cupping my face with one hand, he uses the other to press me against him. Familiar heat radiates off him this close. He tilts my chin up and kisses me so gently, I barely feel his lips against mine. But I can feel the desperation, and as he presses me a little closer, I know this is a goodbye.

The kiss only lasts a moment. Then the guards drag him away, and those threatening tears finally spill. I’m not sure if the tears are angry or anguished. Or maybe just broken.

“You’re right, little sparrowhawk,” Ashe says over his shoulder.  “Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”

I don’t get to respond. The last guard exits my chambers and slams the heavy door closed, leaving me truly alone for the first time in years. I take a shuddering breath, willing the doors to burst open, for Ashe to come rushing back to me.

They don’t. Silence settles over the room, screaming the truth:

Nothing will ever be okay.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Olivia Rivers is the author of five novels, ranging in genres from Epic Fantasy to Contemporary Romance. Along with being a writer, she’s a freelance digital artist, a literary agent assistant, and a high school student. She’s a nerd at heart, and is a hopeless fan-girl for Doctor Who and Pokémon. Olivia lives in California with a dog who thinks he’s a cat, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and a kitten who is just generally confused. 

Author Links:

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Interview with Scott Craven + DEAD JED Trailer + Giveaway! @chapterxchapter @Month9Books @Scott_Craven2

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend. Now let's rock into December, starting with an interview with an awesome author. And I've met him in person, so I can tell you that legitimately! Let's welcome Scott Craven, who's here to talk about his hysterical MG zombie novel, DEAD JED. Be sure to check out the trailer at the end of the post, and don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win the giveaway!

Welcome to We Do Write, Scott! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi Dorothy. I’m a journalist who for 35 years (or so) has been telling other people’s stories. I was born in California, moved to Arizona, and now can’t get Steve Martin’s “King Tut” out of my head. Wait. OK, there it goes. I’m a featured reporter for The Arizona Republic in Phoenix, and a single father to 18-year-old Bryson. Being a dad now is more about course correction than holding his hand and picking out his clothes. In fact, I wish he’d pick out my clothes. I’m also a big fan of zombie movies and have always believed the undead have gotten no respect. I bet they’d agree to stop eating brains if we stopped shooting them in the head.

How long have you been writing?

My first short story, as far as I know (thanks for saving it mom), involved Thanksgiving and its invention by the Pilgrims. The first-grade assignment was more about handwriting than writing, and I sucked at both. I’ve gotten way better at writing, and I still suck at handwriting. I immersed myself in writing during a journalism class in my sophomore year in high school. From then on I knew what I wanted to do. How lucky is that?

I can't wait to read DEAD JED. Can you tell readers what the story is about?

Jed Rivers is a pretty average 13-year-old, if you don’t count detachable limbs and an unbeating heart. Unfortunately, those who make a career of picking on others notice Jed isn’t what they would consider normal, not with his gray pallor and a talent for holding his breath for, well, ever. In a grade where kids are punished for being smart or overweight or wearing cheap clothes, Robbie (Pine Hollow’s Grade A bully) takes exception to someone who dares to be undead. But when Jed embraces his zombieness, he finds a way to get back at his tormentor.

Now I'm even more excited! How did the idea of the story come to you?

There I was, enjoying a nice long shower (one of life’s great pleasures), and my mind wandered to zombies. And what a bad rap they got. What if a nice guy just happened to be a zombie? How would he be treated? And how tough would it be to fit in when you are of an age when fitting in is all that matters? I knew right then I could write a book on it, in part thanks to the two very miserable years I spent in middle school.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Pantser, absolutely. Plotting is way too much work, and I am inherently lazy. I admire those who sit down and figure everything out, using outlines and graphs and pie charts. When I finished a chapter, my goal was to leave off sorta knowing where I might go next. I wasn’t always successful. At those times, I’d put my head down and write just to get something on the computer. It worked, even if it involved way more rewriting than I like.  

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

My dog Sandy on the couch, a diet soda to my right, and iTunes playing a mix of 1970s and 80s R&B. Let’s do this.

I can totally dig that! What are you reading right now?

Richard Russo’s memoir “Elsewhere,” recommended by a friend (one of life’s many treasures are friends with similar literary tastes). I’m enjoying it immensely, especially when the author and his mother move to Arizona and are overcome by Phoenix’s bleak, car-dependent sprawl (that was more than 40 years ago, and it’s still true).

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

A super power that could grant me any super power. Is that cheating? Too bad.

OMG Why have I never thought of that? That's perfect! I want that too! What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I just googled that question and got some great weird-google ideas, most involving mature themes. People, please, get your minds out of the gutter.

LOL. You're asking the impossible. ;) Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

… thinking of ways to put off writing. Hey, look at all these weird things people google. What’s this one? No idea, but let’s find out where it leads …  

Ahahaha! *follows you* And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

You may find “Dead Jed: Adventures of a Middle School Zombie” at all of the finest retail sites, including Amazon.com. bn.com and Walmart.com. You’ll also find it if you google my name and zombie, but you’ll also find some other strange stuff. Wait, where are you going? Don’t say I didn’t warn you …

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18158040-dead-jed Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | KOBO | Indiebound

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